Description
Craving a cozy, satisfying dinner that’s easy to make and loaded with flavor? This **Creamy Italian Meatball Soup** delivers everything you want in one bowl. Tender meatballs, creamy tomato broth, fresh spinach, and perfectly cooked pasta make this soup a standout. It’s ideal for quick dinners, comforting lunches, or batch cooking for the week. Whether you’re after **easy dinner ideas**, **healthy comfort food**, or a hearty **food idea for the whole family**, this creamy soup has you covered.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1 pound cooked or frozen meatballs
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup short pasta (like ditalini or macaroni)
2 cups fresh spinach
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and celery, cooking until softened, about 5–6 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
2. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir well to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
3. Carefully add the meatballs into the simmering broth. If frozen, no need to thaw. Simmer for 10–12 minutes until fully heated through.
4. Add the short pasta and cook until just al dente, about 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Reduce heat and stir in the heavy cream, dried basil, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook just until wilted, 1–2 minutes.
7. Ladle into bowls, top with Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
Use slightly undercooked pasta if planning to store or freeze, as it will soften in the broth over time.
Warm the cream slightly before adding it to avoid curdling.
For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut or oat cream and skip the Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: creamy soup, meatball soup, easy dinner, comfort food, italian recipes